Thomas Cromwell on fundraising and leaving a charitable legacy
Howard Lake | 20 March 2015 | Blogs
Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall includes a number of references to charitable giving, the art of asking (such as for major gifts), and the importance of leaving a legacy.
Whether the fictional and revisionist Thomas Cromwell presented by Mantel in her books was a model donor or fundraiser is debatable. But here are three quotes that I have spotted and thought worth sharing.
1. If you don’t ask
Cromwell, the experienced lawyer and merchant, knows the fundraiser’s mantra well. He gives this advice to Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne, and widow of William Carey. Later in the same conversation she quotes it back at him.
2. Sponsoring students
Cromwell sponsors two students at Cambridge University, and derives satisfaction from doing so. It occurs to him that he could do more, and that he should write his will.
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3. Making a will
Mantel details Thomas Cromwell’s will. He makes provision for his family and servants, but also includes some charitable bequests, including ‘forty pounds to be divided between forty poor maidens on their marriage’.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.